Is There Really a Human Race?

This book is all about those crazy questions that only a child can come up with...but that are plaintive and need a response...in this book we see the wild imaginings of a child and all of his fears and dreams of what it means to be in the human race! What can I say but WOW...there is a lot going on in this book and the question is silly, yet serious...just the kind of question a kid would ask and the message itself (as written by Curtis) is priceless! I'm constantly trying to encourage without making things into a competition...stressing that just trying one's hardest/best is what counts, that life is really more about the journey not the destination. The illustrations and the rhyming poems are of the same quality as the other books show more I've read by Curtis and Cornell...and I think that's part of what makes this book work so well...the illustrations are a chaotic symphony...so much to see, so many little details for young minds to love and the play between what the words mean literally and what they mean figuratively is absolutely perfect for pulling in both children and adults! This is really a wonderful book for all ages and as with others by this author, its best as a read aloud...the larger the group the more interesting the story telling discussion afterwards...and believe me, there will be plenty!! Simply a spectacular way to introduce some complex ideas to younger readers! I'll definitely be adding this to my permanent collection! A+!! show less

Is there really a human race?
Is it going on now all over the place?
When did it start?
Who said, "Ready, Set, Go"?
Did it start on my birthday?
I really must know.
With these questions, our hero's imagination is off and running. Is the human race an obstacle course? Is it a spirit? Does he get his own lane? Does he get his own coach?

Written with Jamie Lee Curtis's humor and heart, Is There Really a Human Race? Is all about relishing the journey and making good choices along the way - because how we live and how we love is how we learn to make the world a better place, one small step at a time.

I liked Is There Really a Human Race for three reasons. First, I really enjoyed the illustrations by Laura Cornell. They are simple but detailed enough to catch the eye. Another reason I enjoyed the illustrations was because of the diversity depicted. I liked that even though the book was about running a race, it included a variety of religious and cultural aspects. Second, I enjoyed how the story included some rhyming (ex. Sometimes it’s better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you’re last). Third, I enjoyed looking at the textual features throughout the story (ex. On one of the pages the word crash takes up the full page). This particular page easily caught my eye. In the story, the author is engaging her show more readers by using colorful illustrations, along with a fun filled story about a running a race. The big message behind Is There Really a Human Race is that we should enjoy life’s journey. It does not matter whether you are first or last, just where the journey takes you. show less

If there was one children’s book that I wish I wrote, this would be it. One of my all time favorites, a fantastic story with the most diverse illustrations which can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. It teaches kindness, empathy, compassion and open mindedness.
.
.
“Sometimes it’s better not to go fast.
There are beautiful sights to be seen when you are last.
Shouldn’t it be that you just try your best?
And that’s more important than beating the rest?

Shouldn’t it be looking back at the end
that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?”

Is There Really a Human Race? By: Jamie Lee Curtis

In my opinion, this is a very energetic and engaging book that provides the readers with an uplifting message. The combination of the words and illustrations throughout the book convey the main idea that although all humans encounter complications, when they come together as one they will be able to overcome these pressures and be successful. Overall, the big idea focuses on the importance of helping others. I like how the author incorporated simple, yet meaningful language. For example, Curtis asks, “if I get off track when I take the wrong turn, do I make my way back from mistakes? Do I learn” (17) This quote uses humor to give the readers a new perspective on their daily lives. show more Personally, I think the illustration on this page exhibit the positive impact one can have when working together and trying your best. The plot was well organized and used questions to emphasize life lessons. Overall, I felt that Curtis was clever with the rhymes and word choice she included throughout this book. show less

Clever book explaining the "human race". The begining rhymes and sings along with all types of wonders. Then it gets answered by inspirational quotes such as "sometimes it's better not to go fast. There are beautiful sights to be seen when you're last". Great book about helping others and enjoying life rather than racing through it.

This was another book I picked out myself and it caught my eye because it was written by Jamie Lee Curtis and the title intrigued me as well. I thought it was a really cute book. I use that word a lot when it comes to kids books, but I think most of them should be. The book actually uses the phrase human race and asks the question from a kid's point of view as if it were a real race. It is a poem book so it flows well. And the message is really great and simply says that life isn't a race and we should slow down to enjoy and help each other out because if we all are trying to race we are going to crash. The illustrations are crazy. There is so much color and commotion, you could spend several minutes on each page just looking like that. show more The way the book comes together is really great and the message is a good one for kids to know. show less